Marble remains the only player in Hawkeye history to eclipse the 2,000 points scored mark.

“Roy has been a part of the Iowa basketball family for a long time as one of the all-time best to play for the Hawkeyes, and since then as a tremendous supporter of our program,” Iowa head coach Fran McCaffrey said.

Local fans share the same sentiment.

Hawkeye fan Fred Jones said, “He was a great ballplayer. He was one of the best Iowa ballplayers ever, and his number should be retired at the University of Iowa.”

Marble donned the black and gold from the 1986-89 seasons, then spent two years in the NBA for two years.

“He was very encouraging,” said Hawkeye fan Brenda Erickson. “My daughter was in basketball, and she was a freshman in college at the time. He just wanted me to keep her going in basketball and was just a very encouraging figure.”

Erickson said Marble was a class act.

News of Marble’s death struck the same day thousands of people gathered to remember beloved former Iowa football player Tyler Sash.

Former Hawkeye star wide receiver Derrell Johnson Koulianos said, “This one hurt. It’s going to hurt for a long time. Still, to me, it’s surreal. It’s going to take a long time to get over not communicating with him on a daily basis.”

Koulianos was Sash’s best friend.

The Front Row, a sports bar, plans to honor both Hawkeyes in its own special way on Saturday during the CyHawk game.

“At halftime, I’m going to have a moment of silence, so everyone will raise our glasses and toast in honor of them,” manager Shawn Smith said.